Asked on May 16, 2015
Any idea how to keep a counter/snack bar totally free of clutter?
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The counter/snack bar is between the kitchen and dining area, and is a handy area for family to pile up anything and everythingand leave it there! I would love for it to be clear all the time, except for fresh flowers or an accent piece.
9 answers
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I would love to know the answer to this one! You could make hanging files or a paper storage place for each person, and repeatedly move their "stuff" to this area. After a while, they might get tired of asking you where it is and start using their own storage area. What I did for our dining room table, which was a repository for papers, was to get a large box and put all the stuff in it and keep it on the table. Then I can move the box off the table when I want to clear it, and I can tell my husband that all his stuff is there.
Darla
on May 17, 2015
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In order to conquer clutter you have to set rules and be consistent in enforcing them. When i was growing up, my mother threw away any clutter that was left out. It didn't matter what it was, if it was left where it didn't belong, it went in the garbage can! I remember fishing my homework out of the garbage once because I left it laying on the dining room table. Harsh? Maybe but it sure taught my sister and me not to leave our stuff laying around! Clutter drives me insane so over the years, i have used the same method with my daughter and husband. Now, after 42 years of marriage, my husband is almost *trained* but if he slips up, all I have to do is give him "the look" if he starts to lay down something where it doesn't belong and he will pick it up and put it away. lol I would suggest you inform your family that there is a new rule concerning leaving their belongings in this area. Tell them anything, ANYTHING, despite its importance or cost left there will be thrown out and if it is something important they want to keep, they had best think twice about leaving it there. Then at least once a day, throw it away! If you are concerned about throwing away something important (or expensive like a cell phone, iPad etc.), then have a secret box in a closet somewhere where you can toss those items but DO NOT tell your family. In order for this to work, they have to think their stuff is gone forever. You have to be ruthless so they clearly understand you are serious and mean business! Once the cycle of leaving their items on this bar area is broken, you can return the iPad, cell phone etc. but only after they have had to do without it for a while. If your children are older, an alternate way you could handle the electronics is to institute a "buy back" system where they either do an extra chore or pay a hefty "ransom" to get their electronic items back. You could secretly save the "ransom" money for a family event like dinner out, a vacation etc. I guarantee if you are consistent in throwing things out, and don't cave, the clutter madness will stop. Good luck.
Shari
on May 17, 2015
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I agree with Shari. When both my sons were boys, it only took one time for me to actually follow through & begin to put their stuff in a garbage bag for them to understand Mom was very serious. As a single working parent, it helped a lot over the years that they kept their rooms fairly decent & put household items away.
Laura
on May 17, 2015
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i follow the "flylady" system. just 15 minutes a day keeps the hot spots clear. have a trash can and basket handy to throw trash away, and put misplaced items in basket to be returned to their homes. it really does work.
Janice bibb
on May 17, 2015
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Well, you COULD do like I did and rent some kind of elec saw and cut your bar off, lol! Or, do as Shari suggested, trash everything except electronics - hide those and institute a buy back program. Then when you get enough from the buy back program, do something nice for YOURSELF. After all, YOU'RE the one who cooks and cleans, etc., so it's only fair that YOU'RE the one who should benefit from their slovenliness, whether it's a mani-pedi or lunch out with the girls.
MahtaMouse
on May 18, 2015
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or with vigilance, when they put it down, you pick it up, costs 25 cents to get your item back, this worked even with my sons friends.
Shamrockcamper
on May 18, 2015
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Finally got pictures taken, I've been gone three days and it's worse now! Dirty dishes, with dried left over food in them, there are only two of us here, me and our neice, and one of her chores ( she has to have assigned jobs, although she is 57! Worked heavy equipment, and drove a semi cross country for over 23 years). Occasionally I do get the counter cleaned off for less than 6 hours. Thank you.
Rosemarie Randolph
on May 21, 2015
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There is one really effective technique but I warn you it will cause hostility and money both. Giver her one weeks notice that you want the counter kept clear and that starting on a certain date anything left on the counter will be thrown out, and that will be the new norm. Then stick to it. Dirty dishes, boxes, whatever, you just get a big outdoor trash can, set it at the end of the counter, then plow the whole thing clear into the can and out to the trash. And do it daily until it sinks in that this is not a joke. If you don't want your dishes to be part of the casualties then you will just have to do up all the dishes then install locks on the cabinets and present her with a bag that has plastic ware and paper plates and tell her until she learns to treat your home with respect then that's all she gets to use. This technique works well on husbands who leave their clothes all over the place no matter what. I will admit that I only hid the clothes because we could not afford to replace them, but the message got through.
Danielle
on May 25, 2015
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I put baskets and hooks by our back door where we come in for us to put our things as soon as we walk in so no one puts things on the kitchen table and countertop. Do you have room around there? Coming in from the garage? or front door? Where the most traffic is. You can even get baskets from the dollar store and hang them on the wall with hooks for the kids and put a small table for you and your husband to put your keys and purse.
Orchidmg
on May 30, 2015
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